Staff

Mrs K Sladen, Head of Drama

Key Stage 3

In years 7, 8 and 9 students study Drama one hour per fortnight with a focus on developing self-confidence, self-esteem and a love of performing. Students are also taught a variety of performance skills and techniques to enable them to express themselves creatively and effectively through the medium of Drama.

Lessons are planned to allow students to develop their creative ideas through Drama work, employing a variety of stimulus materials and introducing students to the skills and knowledge required at Key Stage 4.

Students are expected to perform as part of small groups in front of their peers; this is an expectation within Drama lessons and all students are encouraged to be brave and confident in their approach to this and to be supportive of their peers.

Students’ work is regularly filmed to give opportunities to play back and analyse in detail, through this students are able to develop their evaluative skills both verbally and in written format. Students receive on-going verbal feedback during lessons and assessment takes place formally after each termly module.

The modules studied each term are as follows:

Year 7:

Autumn Term – Mime

Spring Term – Physical Theatre

Summer Term – Stage Combat

Year 8:

Autumn Term – Audio Plays

Spring Term – Theatre in Education

Summer Term – Improvisation

Year 9:

Autumn Term – Devising Drama

Spring Term – Scripted Drama

Summer Term – Theatre Design

Key Stage 4

Students who opt to study Drama at GCSE level follow the AQA GCSE Drama course. This is a practical and creative acting course for those who have a love of Drama and who wish to develop their skills in the subject. It is a challenging but immensely enjoyable course that enables students to learn new and exciting things about themselves and their abilities. Over the course, students produce performance work that includes both acting from scripts and devising their own work from a range of stimulus materials. There is also an introduction provided to technical skills such as lighting, sound, design and stage management.

Good teamwork skills are essential and the willingness to work with others, be motivated and share ideas is more important than acting experience in choosing this course. Students are expected to maintain good attendance, attend compulsory evening theatre visits and exams and, when necessary, rehearse in their own time; commitment and a focussed, hard-working approach are essential if success is to be achieved on this course.

Practical Work

Practical work is worth 60%of the total marks and is divided into two components: Devising Drama and Texts in Practice.

Devising Drama is worth 40% of the total marks and tests students on their ability to create, perform, analyse and evaluate their own devised work. This is assessed through both the submission of an individual written Devising Log documenting the devising process and a final group performance. This component is marked within school and moderated by AQA.

Texts in Practice is worth 20% of the total marks and requires students to perform two key extracts from a scripted play. This component is marked by a visiting examiner from AQA.

Written Paper

There is a final written exam of one hour and forty-five minutes’ duration covering three areas: testing knowledge and understanding of theatre roles and terminology; study of a set scripted play; analysis and evaluation of a live theatre production seen. This accounts for the remaining 40% of the total marks.

Links

Millthorpe School is a trading name of South Bank Multi Academy Trust a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 10067116 whose registered office is at Woodthorpe Primary School, Summerfield Road, Woodthorpe, YORK YO24 2RU